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The DSpace digital repository system captures, stores, indexes, preserves, and distributes digital research material.Sat, 25 May 2019 03:14:28 GMT2019-05-25T03:14:28ZChemical Repellents for Reducing Blackbird Damage on Mature Sunflowers: The Importance of Plant Structure and Avian Behavior in Field Applicationshttps://hdl.handle.net/10365/29793
Chemical Repellents for Reducing Blackbird Damage on Mature Sunflowers: The Importance of Plant Structure and Avian Behavior in Field Applications
Across North America, blackbirds (Icteridae) depredate high-energy crops, such as sunflower (Helianthus annuus), placing an economic burden on producers. Chemically-defended crops, in the form of human-applied repellents, may induce birds to forage elsewhere if a learned aversion can be established. However, repellent deployment must be feasible for producers at the scale of commercial agriculture. Thus, my main objective was to evaluate the efficacy of anthraquinone-based repellents applied to ripening sunflower for reducing blackbird damage. I conducted concentration response (no-choice) and preference tests (two-choice) to evaluate repellent efficacy on captive blackbirds using application strategies practical for agricultural producers. I evaluated field application strategies to assess the potential for broad-scale application using new drop-nozzle technology. Additionally, I describe behavior of captive blackbirds as they interact with ripening sunflower to further inform repellent application. Our results support the conclusion that application of anthraquinone-based repellents is not currently a feasible option for ripening sunflower.
Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://hdl.handle.net/10365/297932019-01-01T00:00:00ZOptimal Inventory Strategy Under Risk: A Contingent Claims Approachhttps://hdl.handle.net/10365/29792
Optimal Inventory Strategy Under Risk: A Contingent Claims Approach
Inventory management in the agriculture industry involves many sources of risk in terms of demand uncertainty as well as uncertain margins. Divulging an optimal inventory strategy can prove cumbersome to logistics managers. In this thesis, inventory is viewed as a real option on the ability to operate. Contingent claims inventory (CCI) analysis, paired with stochastic binomial real option valuation, provides a model which values the real option embedded in holding inventory and iterates the purchasing strategy until expected profit is maximized. This framework is applied to three industry cases pertaining to: wheat flour milling, fertilizer merchandising, and bulk shipments via primary rail contracts.
Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://hdl.handle.net/10365/297922019-01-01T00:00:00ZEvaluating the Effectiveness of Kinesio® Tape as an Intervention for Recreational Runners who Pronatehttps://hdl.handle.net/10365/29791
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Kinesio® Tape as an Intervention for Recreational Runners who Pronate
Kinesio® Tape could potentially be an intervention to improve excessive pronation of the foot. This research project investigated the effect Kinesio® Tape has on the navicular drop test and joint kinematics through 3D motion analysis in recreational runners. Twenty volunteers with an NDT greater than 10 mm ran two separate half-miles, one receiving a mechanical Kinesio® Tape technique and the other with a sham Kinesio® Tape technique. NDT measurements were taken immediately on arrival, immediately after Kinesio® Tape application, and immediately after the half-mile with Kinesio® Tape still applied. 3D motion analysis measured gait kinematics during the half-miles. NDT scores for the tension trials were statistically significantly lower when compared to the sham trials. 3D motion analysis captured six cases of statistical significance, however tape did not change the joint angles. Therefore, Kinesio® Tape improved the amount of pronation of the foot but only slightly improved gait kinematics.
Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://hdl.handle.net/10365/297912019-01-01T00:00:00ZMulti-Agent Based Simulation of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Systemhttps://hdl.handle.net/10365/29790
Multi-Agent Based Simulation of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles System
The rapid growth of using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for civilian and military applications has promoted the development of research in many areas. Most of the unmanned aerial vehicles in use are manually controlled. Often, UAVs require highly trained pilot operators. Hence, the main challenge faced by researchers has been to make UAVs autonomous or semiautonomous. The goal of this research project is to develop and implement a simulation for a user-defined environment allowing UAVs to maneuver in free environments and obstacle-laden environments using Boid's algorithm of flocking with obstacle avoidance. The users are permitted to analyze the maneuvering area and coverage efficiency of the UAVs and to dynamically change environments. This project makes use of Boid's flocking algorithm to generate different kinds of movements for the flying agents, enabling the user to analyze the effectiveness of patrolling in that particular scenario. The number of UAVs and the type of environment are set by the user. The set number of UAVs moves as a flock or swarm inside the set environment by using Boid's rules of flocking: cohesion, alignment, and separation. The coverage efficiency of the UAVs in that particular environment is reported based on the ratio between the area covered and the time when the search time reaches a threshold. The advantages and feasibilities of the approach are discussed with the simulation results.
Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMThttps://hdl.handle.net/10365/297902011-01-01T00:00:00Z